Acrylic esters of ether-alcohols



Patented Jam 11, 1949 ACRYLIC ESTERS OF ETHEB-ALCOHOLS Chessie E. Rehberg, Glenside, and Charles 1!. Fisher, Ablngton, Pa., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary ot Agriculture No Drawing. Application March 5, 1946,

. 7 Serial No. 652,214

Claims. (Cl. 2.6083) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended by the act of April 30, 1928, and the invention herein described, it patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This application is a continuation in part of our copending application for patent, Serial No. 545,653, filed July 19, 1944, granted as Patent No. 2,396,434.

This invention relates to monomeric and polymeric acrylic esters of mono-ethers of glycol and diglycol, especially those wherein the glycol mono-ether is either an aryl or aralkyl ether of diglycol, or a branched-chain ether of glycol or diglycol. These esters may be represented by the formula CHmCRCOOECHzCI-I ZOJnR wherein R is hydrogen or methyl, R is aryl, aralkyl or a branched-chain alkyl group, and n is an integer from 1 to 2, n being 2 when R is aryl or aralkyl. Among the esters included in this roup may be mentioned the esters of acrylic and methacrylic acid derived from the phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, chlorophenyl, xylyl, chlorobenzyl, methoxybenzyl, and similar mono-ethers of diglycol and those derived from the isopropyl, isobutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, Z-ethylhexyl, and similar branched chain alkyl mono-ethers of glycol or diglycol. The esters herein contemplated may be conveniently prepared by treatment of the glycol 'mono-ether with the acrylic acid or its anhydride or acyl halide, or by the alcoholysis of a lower alkyl ester of the acrylic acid by the ether-alcohol. The esters of acrylic acid generally polymerize with much greater ease than do those of methacrylic acid. Furthermore, the ether-esters which are the products of the present invention polymerize much more readily than do the simple alkyl esters of the same acid. This is especially true of the esters of the mono-ethers of diglycol,

since they polymerize more readily than the corresponding derivatives of glycol itself. Hence, much difl'iculty is encountered in the preparation, preservation, and use of the esters herein disclosed. However, by use of suitable precautions herein disclosed, they were minimized or eliminated.

In the preparation of the monomers it was found to be very important to use pure reagents, free of glycols and peroxides; to rigidly exclude air from the apparatus, particularly in the vacuum distillation of the monomeric esters, and to distill the esters at relatively low temperatures, preferably not higher than 80 to 100 C. The monomeric esters can be stored indefinitely without addition of any inhibitor if kept refrigerated at about 0 C.

The monomeric esters may be polymerized by any of the methods commonly used in the art. For instance, they may be polymerized in mass,

-in a suitable organic solvent, or in an aqueous emulsion. Suitable 'catalysts include heat, light, peroxides and per-salts, or any combination of these. We generally prefer to conduct the polymerization at a temperature between about and 120 0., although others may be used. The polymers thus obtained are generally soft and rubbery, and are soluble in the usual solvents such as esters, ketones, aromatic hydrocarbons,

and halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons. Films, coatings, and laminations may be prepared from solutions or aqueous emulsions of the polymers by methods well known in the art.

A remarkable property possessed by the polymeric esters herein disclosed is that exposure to air or oxygen, especially at elevated temperatures or in the presence of certain catalysts, results 'in their conversion from a soft, rubbery, soluble,

- utes is required without catalyst. The rate of cure is roughly doubled by the use of a trace of cobalt naphthenate.

The preparation, polymerization, and curing of these esters are illustrated by the following examples:

EXAMPLE I PREPARATION or MONOMERIC IsoPRoPoxYE'rHYL ACRYLATE (ALCOHOLYSIS METHOD) Monomeric isopropoxyethyl acrylate was prepared from glycol mono-lsopropyl ether (isopropyl Cellosolve) and ethyl aerylate according to the following procedure.

One kg. of the glycol mono-isopropyl ether, 3 kg. of ethyl acrylate, g. of hydroquinone (polymerization inhibitor), and 10 g. of sulfuric acid (catalyst) were mixed in a 5-liter flask attached to a 2" x 3' fractionating column. The

charge was refluxed, the still-head and take-off being arranged and operated so that distillation of the ethanol-ethyl acrylate azeotrope (B. P.

complete in y, to 2 hours.

1 percent solution of ammonium persulfate in 76 C.) removed the ethanol as rapidly as it was 5 definitely without change. The resin in the emulformed. -When no more ethanol was produced sion could be coagulated by addition of brine, to 12 hr.) the still was cooled and the excess acid, or other reagents commonly used for the ethyl acrylate was distilled at about (75 mm.) purpose, depending on the particular emulsifier The product was then distilled at about 55 used. The resin could be dissolved in organic sol- (5 mm.). 10 vents, provided that it had not been unduly ex- EXAMPLE II posed to air in drying.

Pnnranii'rrox or Monomnuc Isoraoroxmmn. EXAMPLE x MII'HAORYLATI: (Acm Amrmmm: Mrrrron) Three hundred eight grams of methacrylic I 1 E5 Ponmmlzum anhydride was added slowly with stirring to When bottles containing the monomer were 229 g. of isopropoxyethanol (isopropyl Celloleft at room temperature for a few days, polymersolve) containing 20 g. of hydroquinone and 2 g. ization occurred. When warmed to to 80 C., of sulfuric acid, the mixture being maintained at the monomer polymerized much more quickly. 60 to 100 C. during the addition. 20 The polymers thus obtained wereusually soft,

Alter Stan Overnight at room temperature. tacky, elastic and rubbery, and were soluble in the mixture was distilled under reduced pressure, ethyl acetate, toluene, and other organic solvents. the isopropoxyethyl methacrylate being collected The solutions thus obtained were much more visat about 73 (6 mm.). cous than those obtained by conducting the Obviou y. t e c d c o i C u d ha e been 25 polymerization in the solvent, indicating a higher used instead oi the anhydride, or the ester could molecular weight in the mass polymer. have b en m y the l h y i method It is evident that the polymerization procedures scribed in Example II. outlined above may be varied considerably by t h t above e p s Show the formethose skilled in the art. For instance, other tion of o y t esters. others y be Produced catalysts, solvents, emulsifiers, or temperatures acc to e invention- Following the P may be used. Furthermore, any of these esters cedure of Example I, except for substitution of may b copolymerized i any proportion ith the'reactants, the esters indicated in the table other vinyl type monomers such as butadiene, (b low) a Ex p I o VI w P d ced, the styrene, acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, vinyl chlotable indicating thephy ea pr p ti s o the 5 ride, vinylidene chloride, alkyl acrylates and formed esters of all the examples. methacrylates and, of course, with each other.

-TabZe.-Monomeric esters 13.1. gg Ester 0 mm. [N]n" [allgigg I Isopropoxyethylacrylate 82 19 1.4258 .9549 ,95

IL... Isopropoxyethyl methacrylate... 73 6 1.4278 .9430 66 III Z-Ethylhexoxyethyl acrylate 87 0.5 1.4408 .9215 90 IV Z-EthylhaxoxyethoxYethYl ac- 128 0.4 1. 4510 .0685

v rl zt fyethoxyeth laerylate-.. 145 22 1.5108 1.1103 83 VI lsopropoxyethoxyethylacrylate. 75 0.5 1. 4352 1.002

The following examples exhibit polymerization For such copolymerizations it is sufiicient to mix of the monomeric esters of Examples I to VI. the monomers in the desired proportions and EXAMPLE m then conduct the polymerization in the usual fashion. The properties of such copolymers will SOLUTION POLYMERIZA depend on the type and proportion of the other Fifty grams of monomer and 0.5 g. of benzoyl monomer or monomers used and in general, will peroxide were dissolved in 75 g. of ethyl acetate. be intermediate between those o t po s Other solvents such as toluene or acetone may be produced f m the monomers when used $613- substituted for the ethyl acetate. The mixture t l was refluxed with stirring. Polymerization be- EXAMPLE X gan g a f i' fi g The change whereby the soft, tacky, soluble, was Su 018.11 P mam an 0 ng w on thermoplastic resin is converted into a relatively ternal application of heat. When the reaction hard, glossy nomtacky, thermoset resin which is subs ided' heat was apphed to maintain gentle completely insoluble in organic solvents, is refluxing for 3 hours. The solutions thus obtained ferred to herein as curing This process requires were sirupy liquids suitable for application to suroxygen and when the bxygen is supplied faces by dipping or brushing.

the air, only the surface of the polymer is greatly EXANIPLEVIII affected. Large masses or thick sheets of the resin, when subjected to the curing process, de-

Emsmn PoLmmATmN velop a thin surface layer of'cured resin which Fifty grams of monomer, g of water, and. protects the interior of the mass. For this reason 2 g. of emulsifying agents (soap, sodium alkyl thin films, sheets, or coatings are most suitable sulfate, and so forth) were stirred together while unless it is desired to have only a surface cure heated in a steam bath. When hot, 1 cc. of 76 overasoft interior.

An unsupported, cured film of isopropoxyethyl acrylate was prepared by using a solution of the polymer in ethyl acetate-prepared as in Example III. A glass plate was wet with soapy water, allowed to dry, then coated with the resin solution. After evaporation of the solvent, the film was cured by baking overnight at 100 C. The film was then removed from the plate by soaking in water, inverted, and again baked overnight at 100 C. This resulted in a film cured on both sides, highly resistant to organic solvents, non-tacky, with good gloss, very flexible, transparent, and almost colorless. During several days of further baking at 100 C., it gradually hardened until finally it cracked when sharply creased.

Panels of glass, wood, copper, brass, and stainless steel were coated with various resins of the group listed in the table, using samples made by each of the techniques described in Examp s VII to IX. The coatings were applied by dipping, spreading, or brushing, and when dry, were cured in an oven. In every case, the resin cured, as evidenced by hardening, loss of tack and insolubility in organic solvents. Rates of cure varied widely with different resins, temperatures, and catalysts. The methacrylate was slightly slower than the corresponding acrylate. The esters containing aryl groups were slower than the others. Those containing branched chain alkyl groups were faster than the comparable ones containing only straight chain alkyl groups. Incorporation of benzoyl peroxide (5 percent based on resin) increased the rate of cure. A few thousandths percent of cobalt (as naphthenate) accelerated the cure even more. With the latter catalyst the more active resins, such as isopropoxyethyl acrylate, could be cured to the tackfree state in 10 minutes at 100 C. Longer baking or higher temperature improved the hardness of the film.

All the samples showed very good adhesion of both the uncured and the cured coating. Immersion of the cured specimens for 24 hours in water, alcohol, acetone, toluene, gasoline, or ethyl acetate failed to loosen, dissolve, or cloud the film or to render it tacky. Likewise, heating to 175C. fails to make them tacky.

Instead of baking in an oven, the resins may be cured by irradiation with ultra-violet or infrared light, by electronic heating, or by other known means.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A monomeric ester having the formula CH2;CRC0O[CH2CH2O]R', wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl, R is a branched chain alkyl, and n is an integer from 1 to -2.

2. A non-thermoplastic, organic-solvents insoluble polymer of an ester having the formula 'CHzzCRCOO tcriecneoinn', wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl, R. is a branched chain alkyl, and n is an integer from 1 to 2.

3. Isopropoxyethyl acrylate. 4. Isopropoxyethyl methacrylate. 5. Isopropoxyethoxyethyl acrylate.

CHESSIE E. REHBERG. CHARLES H. FISHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

